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News items will help keep you up to date on disability related developments, resources, and other emerging issues.

You can access the current and recent issues of the Center's ADA In Focus newsletter under the news menu above. The ADA In Focus newsletter is published three times each year. You can also contact our office at (800) 949-4232 Voice/TTY to request a hard copy, accessible formats, or go to the newsletter page to read current or past newsletter issues online. Please note that old newsletter issues may contain inactive links or outdated information.

The ADA Leadership Network (ADA-LN) enhances implementation of the ADA by training and supporting ADA leaders in local communities. Some highlights of recent activities:

Collaboration is Key for the Central Pennsylvania Center for Independent Living

The Center for Independent Living of Central Pennsylvania (CILCP) is working with the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence (PCADV) to increase awareness of the ADA and disability issues. Long-time ADA-LN member Janetta Green was asked to assist with the development of e-learning modules to train domestic violence program advocates across the state. After the modules were developed, Janetta was invited to speak at a conference of program advocates and other stakeholders.

ADA In Focus is published three times yearly by the Mid-Atlantic ADA Center. It is also available by request in large print, Braille, audio CD, and computer disk. To obtain copies in other formats, contact us.

Settlement: Virginia Medical Practice to Implement New Policies, Pay Damages and Penalty for Refusing Services to Individual in Medication-Assisted Treatment

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) recently entered a settlement agreement with Selma Medical Associates, a practice that offers both primary and specialty care in Winchester, Virginia.

DOJ conducted an investigation based on a complaint that the medical practice refused to schedule a family care appointment for a new patient when he revealed he takes Suboxone to treat opioid use disorder (OUD). DOJ found that the practice was routinely refusing services to individuals who were being legally treated with narcotic controlled substances for OUD or other addictions, which are generally considered disabilities.

According to DOJ, at the time the complainant sought routine care from Selma, he did not engage in the illegal use of drugs and had participated in a supervised rehabilitation program, therefore he was entitled to protection under the ADA.

The new Office of Compliance Initiatives in the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) launched two websites to help workers and employers find information about federal laws that address workplace health and safety, fair pay, family and medical leave, unions, veterans’ issues, discrimination, and more.

Worker.gov and Employer.gov provide centralized collections of information to help workers understand their rights and employers understand their responsibilities.

Also from DOL, Apprenticeship.gov, connects employers and job seekers through apprenticeship programs, and features a search tool that enables career seekers to find programs by city, state, and occupation.

“Why Architects Still Struggle with Disability Requirements 28 Years After Passage of the ADA”

This article features an interview with Peter Stratton, Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Accessibility Services at Steven Winter Associates, who shares his perspectives on the impact the ADA Standards have had on design and construction.

The legal firm Seyfarth Shaw conducted a review of lawsuits filed under Title III of the ADA in 2018, finding a significant increase and a record number of filings for the year. Filings in California, New York, and Florida continued to represent a disproportionate number of filings (approximately 84% of all filings were in one of these three states).